Pill dispenser



E. M. LAUER PILL DISPENSER Nov. 25, 1947.

Original Filed Feb. 19, 1941 FIG-.8

INVENTOR 41m M. Lnuzn ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 25, 1947 UNlED STATES PILLDISPENSER Elma M. Lauer, Hollywood, Calif.

Original application February 19, 1941, Serial No. 379,604. Divided andthis application April 12, 1944, Serial No. 530,608

3 Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial Number 379,604,filed February 19, 1941, which has matured into Patent Number 2,362,835,dated November 14, 1944., and the invention relates to a dispenser forstoring and dispensing pills, tablets, capsules and the like, one at atime, and has for its object the provision of a dispenser which issimple and cheap to manufacture, that can be readily carried in thepocket or in a ladys pocketbook.

Another object is to provide a dispenser of the class described in whichthe contents is prevented from shaking about in the dispenser when sameis only partially filled.

Another object is to provide a dispenser in which each pill, tablet orcapsule is received into and discharged from an individual chamber.

A further object is to provide a dispenser of the class described thatcan be used as a merchandising package, instead of the usual box orbottle.

Further objects and advantages will appear from the followingspecification, whereby by way of illustration are shown threeembodiments of the device. It will be understood, however, that theseembodiments are merely illustrative of the invention and that thedetails or" construction herein shown can be varied within wide limitswithout departing from the scope of the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view on the line II of Figure 2;

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail sectional View of the casings on the line 33 ofFigure 2;

Figure l is a view similar to Figure 1, except with the casing partlyopened;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the device shown in the precedingfigures;

Figure 6 is a, sectional View on the line 5-43 of Figure '7, showinganother form of construction;

Figure 7 is a sectional View on the line l'-'l of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a bottom view of the device shown in Figure '7 Figure 9 is avertical plan view of another form of device;

Figure 10 is a sectional view of the device, Figure 9, on the lineIlllil; and

Figure 11 is a sectional view on the line I l-I I of Figure 10.

Referring to Figure 1, the numerals I2 and I3 denote cooperatingelongated members forming a casing. These members are freely slidableupon each other and may be held in. cooperative rela tionship in anysuitable manner such as that shown in Figure 2 wherein the member I3 hasits longitudinal edges I4, !5 turned over as shown 2 to form a U-shapedchannel or groove adapted to receive the inturned edges I6 of member l2,which is therefore freely slidable longitudinally therealong.

To prevent the member I3 from being completely'withdrawn from I2--thelongitudinal edge I5 of member I3 is notched to provide a tongue I]which is sprung inwardly to engage a notch I8 cut at the proper place inthe inturned edge It of member I2. As I3 is withdrawn from I2-that is,moved to the right, Fig. 1-th tongue I! will ride along within thegroove formed by the edges 4, I ,5, until it encounters the notch I8,whereupon the tongue will spring inwardly to the position shown inFigure 3, preventing further withdrawal of the member I3.

The member I2 has a cap I 9 secured thereto in any suitable manner, thiscap being oval to abut the adjacent end of the member I3.

The member I3 has a cap 20 secured thereto in any suitable manner, thiscap also being oval to extend over the adjacent end of the member I2.

Extending transversely of the device and preferably formed integral withthe member I2 is a tongue 2I adapted to lie across the path of travel ofa spring separator 22 to retain said spring in the device and to act ina manner to be presently described.

The spring 22 merely lies within the casing and is not secured thereto.It is of rectangular crosssection as shown in Figure 2, and is formed asshown in Figures 1 and 4 to provide the spaces 23, adapted to receivepills, tablets, capsules, or other small articles to be dispensed.

When the device is in closed position, as shown in Figure 1, the springis so formed that it will be lightly compressed so as to hold thecontents of the spaces 23for example, the aspirin tablets shown inFigures 1 and 4so they will not shakeabout.

When the device is opened by pulling lightly upon the heads or caps I9,20, the spring 22 can expand until the part thereof designated by thenumeral 25 comes in contact with the tongue 2|. This relieves thetablets 24 from pressure and, as the members I2, I3, formin the casingare withdrawn from each other, the tablets 24 may drop out of thedevice, as shown in Figure 5.

To load the device when it is empty, the casings being withdrawn fromeach other to the extent permitted by the tongue I1, a fresh supply oftablets are dropped in the spaces 23, and the members I2, I3, are pushedtogether to close the device in a manner that will be obvious. Enoughfrictional resistance is provided by the U-shaped channel and thecooperating edges I4, l5, I6, of the members I2, I3, together with thetongue IT, to hold them in closed position against the slight tension ofspring 22, or in any other position in which they may be placed.

Referring to Figures 6 to 8, inclusive, which show another form of thedevice, the numeral 26 denotes a body member. having a plurality ofnotches 21 adapted to receive pills 24 Overlying the open sides of thesenotches are the annular members 28, 29, the inner annular edges of whichextend inwardly as shown slightly below the bottom of the notches.

The members 28 and 29 are clamped by the outer ring 38 of thin metal orother suitable material against the body 26. The ring 30 is so appliedto the body 26 that it, together with the annular members 28 and 29 maybe moved about the circumference of the body in frictional engagementtherewith.

The ring 30 has a suitable aperture 3| therein large enough to permitthe passage of one of the pills 24 therethrough; and, by holding thebody 26 and turning the ring 30, the-aperture 3| may be brought oppositeany one of the notches 21, and the pills 24- therein Will drop out, asshown in Figures 6 and 7. A depression 32 is formed in the ring 38opposite the aperture 3|.

To load the device of Figure 6, it is only necessary to drop the pills24 into the empty notches 21 as the ring 30 is turned to permit this tobe done.

By stopping the depression 32 in one of the notches 21, as shown inFigure 7, the ring is held against accidental rotation.

The'modification shown in Figures 9 to 11, inclusive, shows a form ofthe device that may be used as a container and thrown away after thecontents are used. Of course, it can be retained and reloaded ifdesired.

Referring to Figure 9, the body 33 may be made of wood or other cheapmaterial and is provided with a plurality of pockets as shown at 34,each adapted to receive a pill, tablet, capsule 35, or the like.Oppositely spaced grooves 36, 31, extend longitudinally of the body,which after being loaded, has wrapped about it the outer cover 38 ofpaper, Cellophane or the like, which is coated on the inside with asuitable adhesive which permits it to be spirally stripped off the bodyalong the line 38. If the cover is applied as a strip, it is woundspirally about the body; if it is applied in one piece, it may beperforated along the line 39.

The body 33 being loaded with capsules, for example, and the cover 38being applied thereto, starting at one end of the body the cover isstripped off to expose one capsule, the pockets being arranged to permitthis to be accomplished. A single capsule being exposed, the coverpulled off, as shown at 46, is cut off by pressing the thumb-nail alongsame at 4| where it overlies one of the grooves 36-31. Thus, theremaining capsules are held in place by the remainder of the cover inplace on the body. 7

The manner of reloading the device is obvious.

Obviously, the spaces 23, notches 21 and pockets 34 may be of anysuitable size and conformation to take any desired object such as apill, tablet, capsule, piece of candy or the like; such modificationsare obvious, Also, the cover 38 of the device, Figures 9 and 11,inclusive, can be a plain cardboard or metal tube, slidable over thebody 33, to permit, as it is withdrawn, the removal of a single capsule.

pill is held in its separate container or space,

which prevents the pills from being damaged by rubbing against eachother as often happens when they are contained in a. partially filledbox or bottle.

Also, by placing a number or other marking opposite each pocket, such asthe spaces 23 or notches 21, the number of pills taken from andremaining in the device can be instantly ascertained.

It will be understood that the words pills,"

tablets, and capsules are used interchangeably herein and that all orany one of them also denotes any other small article such as chewing gumpellets, candy or any other small articles it is desired to dispense,one at a time, from a device of this character that is small and can beeasily carried in the pocket or a handbag.

What is claimed is: 1. A dispenser comprising a two-part longitu dinallysplit casing said parts being in longitudinal sliding engagement, alongitudinally expansible separator mounted therein and forming separatepill-receiving spaces, means for applying pressure to said separatorlongitudinally thereof when said casing is in closed position wherebysaid spaces will be longitudinally contracted, and means to prevent thetotal separation of the parts of said casing.

2. The dispenser as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the parts of thecasing is provided with a cap having a portion overlying and serving toclose the end of the casing.

3. A dispenser comprising a two-part outer casing, said parts being inlongitudinal sliding engagement, means within said casing for limitingthe separation of the parts of said casing, and a spring member withinsaid casing forming therein a plurality of individual pill retainingpockets adapted to individually discharge their 8 contents through thtespace formed by the separation of the parts of said casing.

ELMA M. LAUER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 437,837 Promis Oct. 7, 1890615,611 Dunford et al Dec. 6, 1898 1,594,759 Schweinert Aug. 3, 19261,680,130 Connor Aug. 7, 1928 2,046,869 Burke July 7, 1936 2,057,180Berg Oct. 13, 1936 2,105,424 Kahn Jan. 11, 1938 2,138,241 Koch et a1Nov. 29, 1938 2,324,228 Nash July 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date 375,694 Great Britain June 30, 1932 404,809 Great BritainJan. 25, 1934 21,665 Austria Oct. 10, 1905

